Carbon monoxide/cyclopenten copolymer and preparation with aromatic dinitro compound

Abstract

When a linear alternating polymer of carbon monoxide and a cyclopentene compound is produced in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a compound of palladium, and anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa below 2 and a bidentate ligand, an improved process results when an aromatic meta-dinitro compound is provided to the catalyst composition mixture.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for producing a linear alternating copolymer of carbon monoxide and a cyclopentene compound having a hydrogen substituent on each carbon atom of the carbon-carbon double bond, which comprises contacting the carbon monoxide and cyclopentene in a reaction diluent under polymerization conditions, in the presence of a catalyst composition formed from a palladium compound, an anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa below 2, a bidentate ligand, and an aromatic m-dinitro compound. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the dinitro compound has up to two aromatic rings and is unsubstituted except for hydrogen and alkyl substituents and the two nitro groups. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 wherein the cyclopentene compound has up to 2 alkyl substituents independently of up to 10 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 3 wherein the aromatic dinitro compound has one aromatic ring. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 4 wherein the cyclopentene compound is cyclopentene. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 5 wherein the aromatic dinitro compound is 2,4-dinitrotoluene. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 5 wherein the aromatic dinitro compound is 1,3-dinitrobenzene. 
     
     
       8. A linear alternating copolymer from monomers consisting of carbon monoxide and a cyclopentene compound wherein the cyclopentene compound has up to 2 alkyl substituents independently having up to 10 carbon atoms inclusive and a hydrogen substituent on each carbon atom of the carbon-carbon double bond. 
     
     
       9. The copolymer of claim 8 wherein the cyclopentene compound is cyclopentene. 
     
     
       10. A linear alternating copolymer from monomers consisting of carbon monoxide and a cyclopentene compound, wherein the cyclopentene compound has up to 2 alkyl substituents independently having up to 10 carbon atoms inclusive and a hydrogen substituent on each carbon atom of the carbon-carbon double bond, and wherein the copolymer is produced in the presence of a catalyst composition formed from a palladium compound, an anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa below 2, a bidentate ligand, and an aromatic m-dinitro compound.